The confrontation between Iran and the United States over the nuclear program remains one of the hottest global issues, as the temporary ceasefire deadline approaches its end without a concrete agreement.
According to the latest assessment by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), published in May 2025, Iran possesses a significant amount of enriched uranium. Specifically, the country has over 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% and around 300 kilograms at 20%. In addition, approximately 5.5 tons of uranium enriched to 5% and nearly 2.2 tons at 2% have been reported.
Although these levels do not directly constitute material for nuclear weapons, experts emphasize that uranium enriched to 60% could lead to weapons production within a very short time if further processed.
However, one of the most debated issues remains the actual location of these reserves. Since 2022, Iran has significantly restricted international monitoring by shutting down surveillance cameras, causing the IAEA to lose "continuity of knowledge" regarding the nuclear program.
In June 2025, the U.S. launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Former President Donald Trump declared that the infrastructure was "completely eliminated," but a subsequent Pentagon assessment indicated that the program was only delayed by up to two years.
Meanwhile, international media reports suggest that Iran may have relocated a portion of its enriched uranium prior to the attacks, using specialized transport to underground facilities in Isfahan. These claims remain unconfirmed, while U.S. officials have stated there is no clear evidence of such a relocation.
On the diplomatic front, the positions of the two countries remain diametrically opposed. Washington demands that Tehran surrender all enriched uranium and permanently dismantle its nuclear program. In recent talks, even a long-term suspension of the program has been proposed.
On the other hand, Iran categorically refuses these demands, considering its nuclear achievements a matter of national pride and sovereignty. Tehran has only offered partial compromises, such as diluting reserves or a temporary moratorium on uranium enrichment.
In this situation, Russia has proposed a solution where Iranian uranium would be stored on its territory—an idea that, according to the Kremlin, was previously accepted by Tehran but rejected by the U.S.
The current crisis also brings back into focus the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. The deal collapsed after the U.S. unilaterally withdrew during Trump’s first term.
With negotiations stalled and a lack of transparency regarding uranium reserves, the situation remains unstable and risks escalation, making the Iranian nuclear issue one of the greatest challenges to global security.